Tango Cafe, Saugerties: Lomo Argentino Sandwich

Any Latino restaurants play up the festive nature of their culture with a spectrum of bright colors. With its striking red and black décor, Tango Café offers a different vibe that pairs well with its bold menu options.

Take the Lomo Argentino, a traditional sandwich of seasoned skirt steak topped with ham, a fried egg, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheddar cheese, and chimichurri sauce on a flatbread. “People enjoy the flavors of the steak combined with the sauce, which we make here,” says chef/owner Emilio Maya. (A classic Argentinian sauce, chimichurri contains parsley, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano, vinegar, and other flavorings.) “The sandwich is made large enough that you don’t need a side dish — some people order fries, but it is filling on its own.”

Tango Café’s chef/owner Emilio Maya (at left) presents house specialty, the Lomo Argentino. At right, the interior of the eatery

The steak is procured locally. “We use very fresh ingredients that we get from nearby; there’s a farm market in town where we buy some produce and eggs, too,” he says.

The Tuscan Chicken sandwich is another favorite — with fresh mozzarella, lettuce, tomato, roasted red pepper, pesto mayo, and grilled chicken. But it’s the Lomo Argentino that sets the café apart. “The Tuscan Chicken is really good, but you can get something similar at several places,” says Maya’s wife, Kseniya. “The Lomo is our signature dish; you won’t find anything else like it around here.”